Peace Walk Shannon Airport to Kilrush Ploughsares Trial J21-J24

national | miscellaneous | news report

Friday June 06, 2003 21:56

by Pit Stop Ploughshares

pitstopploughshares at hotmail dot com

087 918 4552

Peace Walk Shannon Airport to Kilrush Trial

PEACE WALK FROM SHANNON AIRPORT TO KILRUSH COURT -TRIAL OF THE PIT STOP PLOUGHSHARES

Saturday June 21 st. - Tuesday June 24th.
JOIN THE "PIT STOP PLOUGHSHARES COMMUNITY" IN BRINGING THE MILITARISATION OF SHANNON AIRPORT TO TRIAL IN KILRUSH CIRCUIT COURT!
*We invite you to participate whenever, and for however long, you
can in the peace walk and trial support.
*Contact pitstopploughshares@hotmail.com
............ if you intend to join the walk, so we can clarify
accomadation needs and send you information on what to bring.

Updates
www.ploughsharesireland.org
087 918 4552 (calling mobile/cell phone from inside Ireland)
+353 87 918 4552 (calling/texting mobile/cell phone from outside of
Ireland)
Landline answering machine........
01 4064 466 (calling from inside Ireland).
+353 1 4064 466 (calling from outside Ireland).

BACKGROUND
In the build up and execution of this year's war on Iraq, 50,000
U.S. troops passed through Shannon Airport, County Clare, to the
killing and oil fields of Iraq. In contravention of Irish
neutrality, U.S. troops and munitions (including components of
Patriot and Tomahawk Cruise missiles) passed through the Irish
airport. A civilian airport was transformed into a pit stop of
death. Shannon Airport continues to serve this role for the U.S. war
machine in its illegal occupation of Iraq.
In the early hours of February 3rd. the"Pit Stop Ploughshares Community" - Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon, Damien Moran
& Ciaron O'Reilly - began to enflesh the prophecy of Isaiah by
nonviolently disabling a U.S. Navy war plane.
Immediately following their disarmament action, the five spent 4-11
weeks in Limerick Prison. They were gradually released under
stringent bail conditions - banned from County Clare where their
trial is set to take place and forced to sign on daily at specific
Garda stations in Dublin.
The Irish government deployed the Army and Navy in reponse to the
nonviolent disarmament. Three U.S. commercial airlines transporting
U.S. troops withdrew from Ireland. The Clare Garda expended their
annual budget and a state campaign of slander and lies was unleashed
on the five defendants. Government claims of 2.5 millioon euros of
criminal damage have not been itemised. Legal aid for senior
counsel has thus far been denied.
If convicted, Deirdre, Nuin, Karen, Damien and Ciaron face a
maximum of ten years imprisonment.
PEACE WALK - FROM SHANNON AIRPORT TO THE TRIAL AT KILRUSH COURT,
COUNTY CLARE
The peace walk will begin with a peace gathering at Shannon Airport
at 12 noon, Saturday June 21st. The walk will conclude with a
memorial for the war dead outside the trial in Kilrush at 9 a.m.
Tuesday June 24th. A vigil, trial support inside & outside the
courtroom and celebrations of disarmament will commence in Kilrush
on Tuesday June 24th.
More details will emerge in the coming weeks......
The basic outline for the this powerful witness against the conitued
use of Shannon airport by the U.S. military is as follows.........
*Saturday June 21st. 12 noon Peace Gathering, Shannon
Airport....speakers & artists from the Iraqi community,
international and Irish peace activists.
*Saturday June 21st. 12 noon the Pit Stop Ploughshares defendants
will commence a vigil joining other peace activists presently banned
from County Clare on the Limerick/Clare border.
*Saturday June 21st. 1.30 p.m. The peace walk will depart Shannon
Airport.
*Saturday June 21st. 2 p.m. The peace walk will meet a peace
demonstration sponsored by the Cork Anti-War group, gathering in the
town of Shannon.
*Saturday June 21st. 6 p.m. The peace walk wil arrive in Limerick for a shared meal and "Celebration of Hope" with the defendants.
Venue and artists to be announced.
*Saturday June 21st. approx 10 p.m. - an all night solstice
celebration will be underway back at Shannon or at a location
outside of Limerick.
*Sunday June 22nd. The Peace Walk continues south of the Shannon
River towards Kilrush.
Accomadation to be announced.
*Monday June 23rd. The Peace Walk continues south of the Shannon
River toward Kilrush.
*Monday Evening June 23rd. The Peace walk will cross the Shannon
River by ferry and arrive in Kilrush.
Accomadation to be announced.
*Tuesday June 24th. 9 a.m. A memorial for the war dead will commence
outside the Kilrush Court.
UPDATES & INFORMATION
www.ploughsharesireland.org
Land Line
Ph. 01 4064 466 (calling from within Ireland)
Ph. +353 1 4064 466 (calling from outside Ireland)
Mobile/Cell
Ph. 087 918 4552 (calling or texting from within Ireland)
Ph. +353 87 918 4552 (calling or texting from outside Ireland)